Isognathotermes modestior ( Silvestri, 1914 )

Josens, Guy, Deligne, Jean, Harry, Myriam, Roy, Virginie, Akama, Pierre D., Coulibaly, Tenon, Dosso, Kanvaly, Goergen, Georg, Hasson, Michel, Kasangij, Patrick Kasangij A, Kifukieto, Carmel, Ru, Bruno Le, Loko, Laura Estelle Yêyinou, Ndiaye, Abdoulaye Baila, Roisin, Yves, Sion, Noémie, Šobotnik, Jan, Stiblik, Petr, Kuenda, Soki Kue Di, Traoré, Saran, Viage, Manuela, Wango, Solange Patricia, Kaymak, Esra, Bourguignon, Thomas & Hellemans, Simon, 2025, An integrative revision of the genus Isognathotermes (Termitidae: Cubitermitinae) with description of seven new species and four new subspecies, European Journal of Taxonomy 1024, pp. 1-197 : 181

Isognathotermes modestior ( Silvestri, 1914)

Figs 28, 30–31, 61–63, distribution map: Fig. 45

Revised herein as junior synonym of I. severus .

Cubitermes severus var. modestior Silvestri, 1914: 93–94 , fig. LV.

Cubitermes modestior – Sjöstedt 1926: 238–239. — Snyder 1949: 161. — Krishna et al. 2013: 1927. — Josens & Deligne 2019: 60 .

Isognathotermes modestior – Hellemans et al. 2021: 233.

Junior synonym of Isognathotermes severus ( Silvestri, 1914) . Syn. nov.

Etymology

The epithet modestior means ‘smaller’ in Latin. It referred to the smaller size of the variety C. severus modestior when compared to the main form, as underlined by Silvestri in the original description.

Historical review

Silvestri (1914: 93–94) described this taxon under the name Cubitermes severus var. modestior ; it is known from a single nest. He provided a short description of imago, soldier, and worker together with measurements and figures, mentioning that the imagines are like the typical form (= Cubitermes severus ), and indeed they are among the smallest individuals of the other I. severus imagines but also that the soldiers and workers are smaller than the main form.

Sjöstedt (1926: 238–239) considered that this taxon deserved to be elevated to the species level. He referred to it under the name Cubitermes modestior , housed it in the sub-family Termitinae , and included it in the “ glebae -Gruppe” of small Cubitermes species.

Snyder (1949: 161) catalogued this species under the name C. modestior and housed it in the sub-family Termitinae .

Krishna et al. (2013: 1927) referred to this species under the name C. modestior and housed it in the sub-family Cubitermitinae .

Josens & Deligne (2019: 39–42) placed this species within the fungifaber valve pattern group.

Hellemans et al. (2021: 233) placed this species in the restored genus Isognathotermes .

Two type subsamples have been examined (see Isognathotermes severus, DJ 0294 and DJ 0341).

Krishna et al. (2013: 1927) mention that another subsample is deposited in PPRI (not examined).

Since the type material of I. modestior ( Silvestri, 1914) comes from a single nest and is included in the smaller specimens of I. severus (from other regions), it is from now on considered a junior synonym of Isognathotermes severus ( Silvestri, 1914) .